Editor opens defence in sedition case

Accra (Greater Accra), 10th June 99 -

Eben Quarcoo, former Editor of "Free Press", on Tuesday said his story, that "the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government was dealing in drugs and intended to use the proceeds to purchase arms", was based on a similar one in the "African Observer", published in New York.

Quarcoo said he cross-checked from the Editor of "African Observer", Mr Steve Mallory before publishing the story in January 1996. He said the Editor, told him that the story was true, but he did not tell him his source of information.

Quarcoo was opening his defence in a case in which he is charged with publishing a story likely to injure the reputation of the Government.

On trial with him at an Accra Circuit Court is Nana Kofi Coomson, Editor-in-Chief of the "Ghanaian Chronicle".

Both published in their papers that the Government was dealing in drugs and that it was using the proceeds to purchase arms and ammunition to destabilise the country should it lose the 1996 general elections.

They have pleaded not guilty and each of them is on a 10 million cedi bail.

Quarcoo, who was being led by his attorney, Mr Akoto Ampaw, said after he had cross-checked from Mr Mallory, he contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for clarification, but he could not get the sector Minister.

He said it was an officer at the Ministry, who preferred to remain anonymous, who told him that Mr Frank Benneh, a former Counsellor at the Ghana Embassy in Switzerland and who was mentioned in the story as a front man in the drug deal, had been arrested.

Quarcoo said he was influenced to believe the story because of the arrest of Benneh and the Government's refusal to have him tried in Geneva for the drug offence and rather brought him to Ghana for trial.

He continues his evidence on June 14.

GRi?/